Jackson State and Savannah State top BCN’s week one HBCU baseball polls
Preseason No. 1 Jackson State University holds the top spot in the first edition of Black College Nines’ HBCU Top 10 Large School Baseball Poll announced March 9, 2022.
The Tigers, HBCU baseball’s defending national champion, received the most first-place votes and total points in the “large school” division which is made up of NCAA Division I baseball programs. Right behind Jackson State at No. 2 is Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) rival Alabama State University. A welcome addition to the large school top 10 poll, Mississippi Valley State University, enters the BCN poll for the first time in program’s history at No. 10.
In the “small school” division, made up of NCAA Division II, NAIA and NCCAA programs, Savannah State University garners the top spot. Savannah State started the season winning twelve of its first 17 games including a five-game winning streak. The Tigers, from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), have had solid pitching and hitting while building a 12-5 record. Following Savannah State is SIAC conference foe Albany State University.
The small school Top 10 poll will have national implications throughout the 2022 regular season which will lead to HBCU baseball programs competing for a national title in the second annual Black College World Series scheduled for May 10-15, 2022, at Riverwalk Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits) in Montgomery, Alabama.
Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Ranking Committee determines the Top 10 rankings for both large schools and small schools. Records indicated are through March 6th.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 6-7 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current RPI: 182 | 6 | 7 | 2 | |
| Bethune Cookman University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-6 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 226 | 5 | 6 | 4 | |
| Florida A&M University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 6-7 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 258 | 6 | 7 | 5 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 8-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 221 | 8 | 5 | 1 | |
| Mississippi Valley State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 4-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 299 | 4 | 5 | 10 | |
| Norfolk State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-6 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current RPI: 282 | 3 | 6 | 9 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (Big South) Record Since Last Poll: 6-6 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 198 | 6 | 6 | 3 | |
| Prairie View A&M (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-7 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 283 | 3 | 7 | 8 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-9 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 266 | 3 | 9 | 7 | |
| Texas Southern University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 6-7 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 275 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Coppin State, Delaware State, Grambling State
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 9-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current ISR: 210 | 9 | 4 | 2 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) Record Since Last Poll: 9-6 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current ISR: N/A | 9 | 6 | 6 | |
| Harris Stowe State University (AWC) Record Since Last Poll: 9-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current ISR: N/A | 9 | 4 | 3 | |
| Kentucky State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 8-9 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current ISR: 264 | 8 | 9 | 4 | |
| Miles College (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 8-9 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current ISR: 284 | 8 | 9 | 9 | |
| Paine College (NCCAA) Record Since Last Poll: 8-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current ISR: N/A | 8 | 2 | 5 | |
| Savannah State (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 12-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current ISR: 196 | 12 | 5 | 1 | |
| Talladega College (SSAC) Record Since Last Poll: 10-10 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current ISR: 275 | 10 | 10 | 7 | |
| Tuskegee University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 6-7 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current ISR: 288 | 6 | 7 | 10 | |
| West Virginia State University (MEC) Record Since Last Poll: 4-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current ISR: N/A | 4 | 2 | 8 |
Bluefield State, Claflin University, Edward Waters, Jarvis Christian,, Lane College, Lemoyne-Owen, Stillman College
- In the large school division, the “RPI” referenced is Massey’s Composite Rankings which is a blending of a number of trusted ranking services. The entire NCAA Division I rankings can be found at masseyratings.com.
- In the small school division, the “ISR” referenced is Boyd Nation’s Iterative Strength Rating. For an analysis of his ISR, the link can be found at The College Baseball Ratings Page-Frequently Asked Questions. Please note, if a school’s ISR shows as “not indicated”, it is because the school has not played in enough qualifying games to give an accurate rating.
2022 Poll Dates (with links to poll results):
Pre-Season
Week 1 (March 9, 2022)
Week 2 (March 23, 2022)
Week 3 (April 6, 2022)
Week 4 (April 20, 2022)
Week 5 (April 27, 2022)
Week 6 (May 4, 2022)
Week 7 (May 11, 2022)
Week 8 (May 18, 2022)
Week 9 (May 25, 2021)
Week 10 (June 1, 2022)
The voting committee is made up of an informed and impartial group of individuals who follow college baseball on all levels, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) baseball. Included in the group are college athletic administrators and educators, college baseball writers and other sports journalists and broadcasters, former HBCU and other college ballplayers and above all else… college baseball enthusiasts who have an interest in promoting HBCU baseball.
As the college baseball season concludes, champions will be named in two divisions… the “large school” division will be composed of the 17 HBCU schools representing NCAA Division I and a “small school” division made up of the 30 HBCU schools with NCAA Division II, NAIA and NCCAA status.